Mine car bumper



April 7, 1936*n SANN ET AL 2,036,361

MINE CAR BUMPER Filed April 12, 1935 3 Sheets-She et 1 2W3 7: 7;} .fp: J K lzoi 7 72 '7 10 4a i I a v 75 INVENTORS OrTOJA/V/V. BYDOUGLASPJTEI I/flED. M PM ATTORNEYS April 7, 1936. o, N ET AL 2,036,361

MINE CAR BUMPER Filed April 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BYDo UGLAS P STEVE/4E0.

MPM

ATTORNEYS.

April 7, 1936. I O SANN ETAL V fifi fififin MINE CAR BUMPER 7 Filed April 12, 19:55 5 Sheets-Sheet :5 W2 55 50 I??? a \v v an fi m lnul s WEE Fr INVENTORS ATTORNEYS rattan a t. a ram can apt/man htto harm and houglas W. hteward, .liohnstown, Pa.

application .dpril i2, 119%, denial lilo. lldt'lll 'l iUlaims.

provide a non-metallic bumper cushion which can be readily incorporated in existing equipment with a minimum amount of alteration. A fur-. ther object is to provide novel combinations and arrangements oi? cooperating elements hereinaiter more particularly described, illustrated and claimed.

Two alternative embodiments oi. the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a plan view showing one embodiment oi our improved bumper attached to the end sill of a mine car; Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, the

end sill of the car being shown in section and parts being broken away in the interest of clearness; Fig. 3 isa' horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalsection through the bumper taken on line fl-d of Fig. i; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of certain of the bumper parts of the previous figures before assembling; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified type of bumper; Fig. 7 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section, as indicated by the f staggered line '|-l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6'; Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinalsection on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, l may be regarded as the end sill or any rigid part ofthe frame or structure of a mineor similar industrial car. Secured to the member |ll, there is a bumper guide frame I! having three forw'ardly extending horizontal members M, l6,

and la. The members I 4 and I8 are relatively narrow in the transverse direction while the center member I6 is considerably longer, as will be clear from Fig. 1. The bumper guide frame I2 is secured to the member l0 by suitable fastening bolts 20. It is thus clear that the improved bumper can ;.be readily assembled on existing equipment.

' The main bumping element is in the form of a steel shell Zlsubstantially U-shaped in vertical section having top and bottom flanges M and it connected by a vertical web portion it. The forward outlines of the flanges and web are 'curvedin plan, as is apparent from the illustration in Figs. l, 3, and 5. p

Metal plates tt and lit are secured, respectively, to the flanges it and ti of the main bumper element by suitable means, such as belts or cap screws it and til, respectively.

The top and bottom flanges of the bumper 10 element as well as the plates it and it are provided with vertically aligned circular openings,

all these openings being indicated by numeral tt. These openings are. of a size to make a snug fit with a coupling pin it. This coupling pin passes freely through elongated slots at, M, and "d ll formed respectively, in the members it, it, and it, the pin having a head lt engaging the upper face of the member it. A coupling link it serves to connect one car with another.

Non-metallic cushion members it and at of rubber or its equivalent are vulcanized or otherwise secured to ihe opposite iaces of the member it and these members are also vulcanized or otherwise secured, respectively, to the metal 2 plates and 32. These cushion members 5% and 52 are provided with aligned holes which register with the openings 36 formed in the bumper flanges and the-plates secured thereto.

While not limited thereto, in some cases, the 30 rubber cushion members 50 and 52 may be so assembled with respect to the member l6 and the flanges 24 and 26 of the bumper member as to be maintained in a state of compression. This can be eifectedby the manner of assembling, it being evident that by providing bodies of rubber of sufficient thickness that, when the parts are assembled, in their normal state, the vertical dimension between the upper and lower faces, respectively of the plates 30 and 32 win be greater than the normal distance between the inner faces of flanges 24 and 25. Then, by clamping the rubber bodies before assemblage, the rubber may be placed under a compressive stress. Regardless of whether or not the parts are assembled in such manner that the rubber is under compressive stress, we deem it important that in operation, when a load is put on the cushions that the stresses he in shear, as distinguished from tension stresses. The assemblage of the combination described is such that upon subjecting the bumper to either bufling or draft loads the cushion elements and 52 are put in shear. When rubber is used in shear, subject to stress similar to that covered by bumping 55 and drafting, its life has been found to greater than as if it were used in pure compression or tension.

When the car is being pulled by the link 48, the load is transmitted to the coupling pin 38, thence to the flanges M and 26 of the bumper shell through bolts 34 and 3S, thence to the plates 3d and 32. As these plates are vulcanized or other-= wise secured to the cushion members '50 and 52, which in turn are vulcanized or otherwise secured to the center member it, it is apparent that any force applied to the bumper shell through the coupling pin 3% will be transmitted through the non-metallic cushion members 50 and 52 and the stresses set up in such cushion members would be in shear rather than tension. If the force applied to the link II is sumciently great, the rubber or other non-metallic cushions will be deformed to such an extent that the cou pling pin in its forward travel will engage the trout end walls oi the elongated slots is, 42 and M and the load will be transmitted momentarily through the members it, it and i8. However, normally, when the car is in motion, the rubber or other cushions will take up the load and until abnormal loads or forces are encountered normally, when the car is in motion, the rubber will carry the load required to pull the car;

In the buffing action, when the bumper strikesthe bumper 01 another car or other object, the rubber cushions function in a manner similar to that described except in a reverse way. In bud. the force is transmitted from the bumper shell and plates 36 and 32 secured thereto to the members it, some ll, thus the rubber is placed in shear in the direction opposite to that involved when the car is being pulled. Hence, if an abnormal force is encountered the coupling pin is carried along because of its snug fit with the holes of the bumper and bumper plates and finally strikes the edges of the elongated slots 40, 42, and 44 nearest the car, thus limiting the inward movement of the bumper.

The cushion bumper equipment above described is well suited to be assembled on existing equipment and satisfies the practical field requirements to meet conditions such as the height of the usual bumper and the height of the connecting links.

Whem no limiting field conditions are to be met such as the height'of the bumper and the link, we preferably provide the alternative bumper equipment, as exemplified in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. In this embodiment of the invention, the bumper guide frame i2, as best shown in 'Figs. 8 and 9, is of substantially U-shape and is secured to the end sill ill of the car by suitable bolts 20. However, instead of being provided with three members, as in thepther construction, we provide two members and ll. These members are provided with recessed seats for the reception of steel or other metallic plates 3" and 31' carrying rubber cushions II and It.

To the underside of the cushion Il, there is secured a. metal plate II and to the upper side of the cushion ii, there is secured a similar plate 00. The bumper element I! in this embodiment of the invention is of substantially U-shape in vertical section and is provided with suitable recessed seats for the reception of the plates 58 and 80. These plates and also the bumper are provided with aligned openings N, which approximately fit the "coupling pin 38. The cushions 50* and I2 are provided with openings of about the same size. The plates Ill and 32' and also the upper and lower members M and are provided with elongated slots it and 44 so as to allow for a limited amount of play for the coupling pin in its draft and buiiing movements. In this embodiment of the invention, the coupling link 48* is accormnodated between the upper and lower walls of the substantially U-shaped bumper member, as indicated in Fig. 8.

As indicated in plan in Fig. 6, although the width of the bumper 62 is less than the transverse dimenslon of the members 54 and 56, the respective plates and the rubber cushion members to which they are secured preferably extend the full width. This is regarded desirable in order to bring into play as much rubber or cushion material as possible.

In order to firmly secure the several coasting horizontal members, we provide in this construction the through bolts 66 which pierce the entire assembly, indicated in Fig. 9. These bolts make fairly snug fit with the upper members 54 and 56 as well as with the upper and lower plates BB and 32 respectively, but elongated openings 68 and iii are provided to allow for the movement of the bumper under draft or buffing conditions.

in this embodiment of the invention of Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the draft forces pass from a link dB to the coupling pin 38* and thence to the bumpor 62. As the plates 58 and 60 are recessed in the bumper, they transmit the load to the rubber cushions which are thus placed in shear. If the load is excessive, the coupling pin will travel until it strikes the outer walls of the elongated slots,

thus preventing further movement of the rubber I and momentarily transmitting the load through the coupling pin to the members 54 and 56.

In bui'flng, the reverse action takes place and the motion is ultimately stopped by the coupling pin striking the inner extremities of the elongated slots 40' and of the members 54 and 66, at which time, the inner end of the bumper may also strike the web of the guide frame i2.

From the foregoing, it is clear that in either of the embodiments of our improved bumper construction, the non-metallic cushioning elements such as rubber or the like are subjected to shearing rather than tension stresses and that such elements are confined within the moving bumper element. This contributes to the compactness of thedevice and also provides a construction in which the cushion elements are substantially enclosed or protected. The arrangement and location of the component elements of the bumper is such that they are readily accessible from the front end of the'car. This facilitates the initial installation and assembly and is of considerable advantage when repair or replacements become necessary after long use. The utilization of the rubber cushion members between steel plates is advantageous from a. fabrication standpoint as is also the fact that the entire assemblage can be dismantled by unbolting the main members I! or ii from the end sill.

While we have described quite precisely certain specific details of the invention herein illustrated, it is not to be construed that we are limited thereto since various modifications may be made by I those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is: s

1. A car having a bumper support, a bumper and rubber cushion members anchored to the latter and bonded to said bumper support and yieldinglyconnecting them. a coupling pin movable with the bumper and cushion under bufilng and spanner draft forces and said support being slotted to limit the movement of the pin relatively thereto under such forces.

2. In combination, a bumper support, a rubber cushion bonded thereto, a bumper secured to said cushion and a coupling pin passing through openlugs and limiting the relative movement between the bumper and the support.

3. in combination, a bumper support, a bump er carrying a metal-plate to which is bonded a relatively thiclr yieldable non-metallic cushion, the latter being secured to said support and a coupling pin which passes through openings formed in said cushion and said plate, the said support having an elongated opening through which said pin passes and serving to limit the eutent of movement of the bumper.

i. In combination, a bumper support adapted to be securedto the end of a car and having a plurality of forwardly extending apertured members, a body of rubber having one face secured to one of said members and its other face secured to a metallic plate, a bumper secured to said plate, a coupling pin passing through aligned openings in the bumper, the forwardly extending members, the cushion and the plate, the openings in said forwardly extending members being considerably longer than the openings in the other elements specified and being adapted to limit the iorward and rearward endwise movement of the coupling pin, the bumper and the cushion.

5. In combination, a bumper support adapted to be secured to an end of a car and having upper, lower and intermediate forwardly eirteng members, said forwardly extending members all having longitudinally elongated slots formed therein, rubber cushion members bonded, re= spectively, to the upper and lower faces oi said intermediate member, respective metallic plates secured to the respective faces of said rubber cushion members remote from those faces which are bonded to the intermediate member, a substantially ill-shaped bumper member whose upper and lower faces are secured to said plates, a coupling pin passing through openings in said flanges, said plates and said cushions and adapted for relative movement in said elongated openings.

6. In combination, a bumper support adapted to be secured to an end of a car and having upper and lower forwardly extending members with elongated slots formed therein, plates secured to said members and having similar slots, respective non-metallic cushions bonded to said plates, a bumper carrying other plates which are bonded to said cushions and a coupling pin passing freely through said slots and passing through openings formed in the last-named plates and said cushions.

7. In combination, a bumper support adapted to be secured to an end of a car and having upper and lower forwardly extending members with elongated slots formed therein, plates secured to said members and having similar slots, respective non-metallic cushions bonded to said plates, a bumper carrying other plates which are bonded to said cushions, a coupling pin passing freely through said slots and making a substantially snug fit with openings formed in the last-named plates and said cushions and through bolts adjacent opposite sides or the bumper, passing through slots formed therefor in said first-named plate and making a substantially snug fit in said last-named plates.

OTTO SANN.

DOUG P. STEWARD. 

